Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1887-01-06

Winter Work Which the Progressive
Farmer VIII Not Shiri.

Winter Work Which the Progressive
Farmer VIII Not Shirix.
Those who have to pay the food bills
for a flock of poultry during winter are
mostly interested in the quantity of eggs
that are gathered daily into the egg
basket. During winter when the ground
ceases to supply worms, etc, the birds
are dependent entirely upon those who
care for them, and such persons should
be properly qualified by thorough
knowledge of the requirements of the
fowls. Good feeding is Indispensable.
A large proportion of food is consumed
in cold weather merely to keep up a
normal animal heat. after which comes
the natural waste of the system before
any part of the food can be spared for
forming eggs. This is one reason why
hens stop laying during very cold spells.
As the days are very short, fowls
should be fed as soon as it is light
enough for them to see to eat. The best
way to be early is to scald or cook the
food over night, cover it up and keep
it in a warm place till morning. 1t can
then be fed to the flock quite early. Early
and late feeding gives better results
than late morning and too early even
ing meals. Warmth and ventilation
must receive due care. Provide good
dust bath of sand, ashes and little
flowers of sulphur. The box. if one is
used. should be sunk in the ground to
a level with the floor close up to low
window so that the sun will shine into
it.
A good shed, dry and open to the
south, should be attached to every
poultry house where many hens are
kept, so that they can enjoy the fresh
air and keep out of snow and wet.
This reminds me of the effects produced
by fowls eating snow or drinking snow
water, which frequently causes diarrhea
and for some reason the birds that in
dulge in this practice, even when no
diarrhea shows itself, get very thin and
out of condition. Of course, one can
not entirely prevent fowls from eating
snow, but they are creatures of habit
to a surprising degree. If we neglect
giving them fresh water promptly, they
will soon contract the habit of eating
snow, and even if they are offered water
afterwards they will care for it less than
if their daily habit of drinking had not
been broken up by carelessness. If,
during the cold weather, one gives
them water with the chill just off, they
will appreciate it and seldom eat much
snow. During cold spells when stock
are confined, they must be kept
scrupulously clean. And a handful of
air-slacked lime should be busted around
inside the houses every day or two, and
at night when the birds are settled drop
a handful under the perches, especially
if any strong smell is noticed in the
houses. Every few weeks treat the
perches to coat of crude petroleum.
See that the nests are clean and invit-
ing. Some may say there is a great
deal of trouble in all this. Well, there
is considerable labor; what can succeed
without it? The fowls have to be fed all
through winter under any circum-
stances, and with too little care no eggs
can be expected. Now, which pays the
better-to have the expense and no
eggs, or to take proper care and get
eggs while they are dear? This can,
without doubt, be done by following the
advice here given:
Fowls to lay must be in good condi-
ton, not fat; but bright, cheerful and
lively. If your fowls are out of cOndi-
ton you must keep up this good feed
ing, ETC., till they are in good order
They will soon let you know that this is
the case by their prating and liveliness
when they are preparing to lay. Ihavei
known some persons whose hens were
out of condition from neglect, to start
feeding them properly expecting them
them to lay at once. This is too much
to expect. Any one accustomed to
poultry can tell at a glance the condi-
ton of flock. There is always a de-
mand for fresh eggs in winter, and any
one having a good flock of early pullets
and giving them the necessary care,
can hardly fail of being repaid for the
trouble -Rurdl NeU Yorker.